Afterschool Academy Teacher Jobs

Higher Achievement is a nationally acclaimed youth development organization focusing on high school placement opportunities for middle school scholars. We are seeking an Afterschool Academy (AFSA) Teacher for the 2023-2024 academic year! AFSA Teachers teach a focused, structured class that supports Higher Achievement's progressive, skills-based cultural and academic model. If your passion is working with youth and making a difference through culture principals of respect, spirit, collaboration, and excellence, Higher Achievement is for you!

Bilingual staff (English/Spanish) strongly encouraged to apply!

Paid Training provided! Higher Achievement invests in our staff. Attend a multi-day orientation and training preceding Afterschool Academy's start. Periodic trainings and professional development opportunities throughout the Academy are part of our professional development model. Hours are supportive of school curriculum, current or retired academic professionals working in the school day encouraged to apply.

Program Model: Higher Achievement showers our scholars with academic opportunities through a proven year-round program model that includes afterschool programming from September-May or June (depending on center) and summer initiatives such as college trips and summer meetings with all Higher Achievement families. Core programming that takes place within Afterschool Academy consists of learning blocks, mentoring, community meeting, electives and field trips.

• Learning Blocks: Scholars receive academic support, including HW help, HS application prep, or supplemental work aligned to in-school content

• Mentoring: In small groups of 3-4 scholars, scholars work with a Mentor as they complete our High School Readiness curriculum which focuses on community exploration, learning about high schools, goal setting, and high school application preparation

• Community Meeting: Scholars engage in activities, challenges, and projects focused on relationship-building and SEL skills

• Electives: Multiple times a week scholars have the opportunity to participate in enrichment opportunities that vary across sites. Examples of electives are art, yoga, chess, dance, sports, cooking and robotics

• Field Trips: Field trips are exposure opportunities for scholars and they are offered 3x during the year: fall, spring, and summer (college trip).

Job Details:

• Location: Baltimore, MD
• Remote Status: Onsite work required
• To Apply: Interested applicants are encouraged to apply immediately with resume, to https://higherachievement.org/about/careers/ with a priority deadline of June 25, 2023, 12 midnight. Apply to each city of interest. The position will remain open until all spots are filled.
• Supervisor: Learning Directors
• Duration: Indefinite, work available during Afterschool Academy Year, which runs September/October through May/June, dependent on center placement.
• Compensation: $45 per hour
• Hours: 3-4 days per week, Monday-Thursday, can range from 2:30-6:30 pm. Additional 1-2 hours of planning time required. Specific hours dependent on center placement.
• Start Date: anticipated to start date of August 28, 2023
• Position Status: Part- Time, Non Exempt

Center Location Openings:

Baltimore:

• Highlandtown Center: Highlandtown Elementary/Middle School: 231 S Eaton St, Baltimore, MD 21224
• Mount Royal Center: The Mount Royal School: 121 McMechen St, Baltimore, MD 21217
• Current Opening-> Lakeland Center: Lakeland Elementary Middle School: 2921 Stranden Rd, Baltimore, MD 21230

What You’ll Do! Responsibilities

Curriculum and Instruction

• Track scholar progress using the center's established tracking mechanisms
• Answer questions from and re-teach necessary concepts to scholars to achieve mastery
• Reinforce Higher Achievement's philosophies and positive work culture
• Develop Scholar Achievement Plans (SAPs), targeted to improve scholars' academic performance
• Ensure that class assignments and homework are completed by all scholars to a high degree of quality. High-quality assignments are characterized by a high level of accuracy, an organized and clear presentation, and answers that indicate thinking beyond the surface level.
• Supervise and manage a disciplined class of between 10-20 scholars that has a positive culture and has scholars actively working three or four days a week on Mondays – Thursdays
• Provide supplemental work or other academic activities for scholars who complete their homework or who have been identified as needing additional help
• Develop and create weekly lesson plans and instructional support for classes.
• Support volunteer homework helpers in their work with scholars
• Support scholars with prioritizing daily assignments, along with setting realistic time-tables with prioritized task-lists for longer-term projects, and assist scholars in preparing for upcoming quizzes, tests, and projects and coach them to develop strong study skills

Communicate with Families, Teachers and Staff

• Communicate and collaborate with Higher Achievement's Learning Coordinators to provide weekly high-quality supplemental work to scholars who complete homework early or who have been identified as needing additional help.
• Place phone calls to scholars' families as needed regarding scholar performance Support Higher Achievement staff in leading team meetings and providing creative problem-solving support.
• Communicate with scholars' teachers and parents/guardians through written communication when concerns or successes arise. Report back to Learning Directors and other staff on the content and progress of these communications.
• Attend weekly Center Staff Team meetings during which individual scholar needs are discussed and plans are put in place to ensure scholar progress. Monitor and evaluate these individual scholar plans.

What You’ll Need! Requirements

• Background & Clearance Check: This position requires a criminal background check prior to hire to include state/local municipalities, school district clearances and grant required checks. All clearance checks are paid by Higher Achievement
• Commitment to the mission and work of Higher Achievement
• Proficient with Microsoft Office suite and comfortable with data management systems
• Strong classroom and behavior management skills using advancing youth development approaches
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) candidates strongly encouraged to apply
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field preferred; college juniors or seniors may apply
• Familiarity with middle school curriculum and implementation
• Minimum of two years of in classroom teaching experience with middle school students required, Teacher Certification strongly preferred
• Strong oral and written communication skills with ability to communicate professionally and effectively with staff, scholars, and families

Core Competencies: Higher Achievement values our core competencies, and as such, we expect that competitive applications will be able to demonstrate strengths in these areas:

Relationship Building; Candid Communications; Pursuit of Excellence; Growth Mindset; Solutions-Oriented

Physical Requirements and Work Environment: Work is regularly performed in a school setting. Employee may spend long periods of time sitting, standing, and walking, and climb stairs. Employee regularly lifts, carries, and positions objects weighting up to 20 pounds. Regular use of a computer and keyboard, telephone, and face-to-face communication in small and large group settings with youth and adults; ability to communicate clearly and professionally. Visual, auditory, and physical ability to respond quickly to incidents involving students and act in an emergency situation. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

About Higher Achievement

Higher Achievement believes that talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. We’re passionate about providing opportunities to close the achievement gap for motivated students. We’re committed to students during the critical transition to middle school by providing year-round, multi-year support for students in the 5th – 8th grades. As students prepare to graduate from our program in the 8th grade, we support their transition to successfully advance to high school programs that keep students on track for continuous eductation. We’re proud to share that 95% of Higher Achievement scholars graduate from high school.

Founded in 1975 in Washington, DC, as a grassroots effort to create learning opportunities for children, Higher Achievement has impacted the lives of more than 10,000 young people and currently operates Achievement Centers in Washington, DC, Alexandria, VA, Baltimore, MD, and Richmond, VA. Higher Achievement’s award-winning model of rigorous academic mentoring, individualization of services, and comprehensive academic support is guided by leading research for effective out-of-school time programs. More information about Higher Achievement may be found at: http://www.higherachievement.org.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Higher Achievement made a concrete commitment to racial equity, diversity and inclusion following the murder of George Floyd: Higher Achievement aims to be an anti-racist and inclusive organization where we aggressively work to improve equity and inclusion in all aspects of our organizational culture and operations, as they are pivotal to the success of our mission. These efforts are outlined in our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Plan which is renewed yearly, with oversight by our Director of DEI. The DEI Plan's Strategic Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) are 1) to foster an inclusive and identity-affirming culture that reflects our Core Values; 2) demonstrate a prioritization of learning and develop inclusive training and tools that support, inspire, and engage staff; and 3) bring a DEI focus to policies and procedures – from Center tours to staff recruitment and promotion, and beyond. We truly believe that to be an organization that intentionally and sustainably centers DEI, all staff members and partners must embed DEI into their daily work.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

Higher Achievement is a proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an workplace where opportunities are available to all team members and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, military and veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We are committed to building a team that represents diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better we will be.